Page 47 of The Shots You Take

“You want to talk about it?”

“No,” Riley said honestly. He didn’t want to talk about anything at all. He just wanted to go to sleep, and maybe wake up months later, when the grief wouldn’t be as sharp.

A chair scraped against the floor, then Adam was sitting kitty-corner to him. It should have felt more surreal, and alarming, to have Adam here in his home, and maybe it was a testament to how tired Riley was, but it felt…comfortable.

“I don’t think I’ve ever told you this,” Adam said, “but do you remember that game about halfway through our first season that both our families were at?”

“I remember.” Riley remembered Adam’s dad being a total dick after the game. Both Adam and Riley had gotten a decent amount of ice time for two rookies, and Adam had even gotten an assist. Toronto ended up losing, but losing was what the Northmen did back then. None of that had stopped Colin Sheppard from giving a detailed account of every mistake Adam had made during the game. He’d done it in front of the entire Tuck family, minutes after meeting them, all of them standing in an awkward group in the hall outside the locker room.

Riley was pretty sure that Adam’s parents had hated him, or at least their son’s friendship with him. He’d suspected they knew what Riley was, and how he felt about Adam, and it had disgusted them. Maybe they’d noticed the way Adam looked at Riley, sometimes. Whatever it was, Riley had no doubt they’d celebrated when the friendship had ended.

He was also pretty sure they used to hit Adam, when he’d been a kid, but Adam had never outright said so.

“Dad was…being Dad that night,” Adam said. “You know, picking apart my game and—”

“Yeah,” Riley interrupted, and lifted his head. “He was being a fucking prick.”

Adam huffed. “Exactly. Anyway, I know you were there for that part, but after, your dad caught me alone somehow—he must have created an opportunity, I don’t know.”

“Probably,” Riley said. He leaned back in his chair. “He was good at that.”

“He told me I was one of the prettiest skaters he’d ever seen.”

Riley smiled. “He wouldn’t be the last person to say that about you.”

“He wasn’t the first either, but man, I needed that compliment in that moment. But he also told me how happy he wasthat his son—” Adam paused to give Riley a pointed look “—had made such a good friend.”

Riley’s cheeks heated. “He said that?”

“And he told me if I wanted to spend some of the summer in Avery River, I was more than welcome.”

Riley wiped away a fresh tear. That was Dad: knowing exactly what someone needed and giving it to them.

Adam held his gaze, his expression serious, and said, “Iwaslucky to have you as a friend.”

This irritated Riley. What was he supposed to say to that? It was absolute bullshit. Did Adam expect him to say it back?

Still annoyed, Riley pushed his chair back, and stood. “Lasagna’s probably ready.”

As he walked to the oven, he heard Adam sigh heavily.

They ate while Lucky loudly crunched through his own dinner in the corner, and Adam carried on a mostly one-sided conversation about several things: the town, Toronto’s playoff chances, the possibility of sunshine tomorrow, food. Riley only half listened, but managed to finish his serving of lasagna.

“I’ll take care of this,” Adam said as he took both of their plates to the sink.

“The hell you will. Go rest your shoulder.”

Eventually, Adam did leave the kitchen, which gave Riley a moment to breathe. He reminded himself that he’d only invited Adam to stay because it was the right thing to do. Adam had hurt himself while helping Riley in the shop, so the least Riley could do was offer him a bed that wasn’t being used. It really wasn’t a big deal, and surely Adam would get bored soon and leave.

When Riley entered the living room, he found Adam lying on the sofa, his eyes closed. Lucky was resting on his dog bed in the corner.

“You awake?” Riley asked.

Adam opened his eyes and smiled. “Hey.”

Riley’s heart wobbled.Oh no.“I’m going to do some laundry in a minute, if there’s anything you want me to throw in.”

“God, that would be great. I’m wearing my last clean pair of pants.”

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